Lot 11 – Abdelkader Laaraj, Untitled

LOT 11
ABDELKADER LAARAJ (MOROCCAN B.1950)
UNTITLED

signed Laraaj Abdulkader in Arabic and dated 2010 centre right
celluloid on panel
109cm x 99.3cm; 43 x 39in
112cm x 102.1cm; 44 x 40 1/8in (framed)

Includes a Certificate of Authenticity Signed by the Artist
Property of a Private Collector, Marbella, Spain

Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

Estimate
£8,000 – £10,000
Buyer’s premium: 25.00% + VAT

Self-taught, Abdelkader Laâraj is a foundational figure in contemporary Moroccan art, whose practice has defied categorisation for over four decades. Born in Casablanca, Laâraj trained alongside Mohamed Melehi and Mohamed Chabâa and operates with a rare fluidity between painting and sculpture, treating both as visceral, physical experiences. His work is characterised by a relentless investigation into the triad of material, body, and space. By imbuing his abstract colour field paintings with figuration, he has subtly moved away from his mentors. However, rather than treating the human form as a static subject, he captures it as a trace of energy or a tension within the medium itself, effectively blurring the lines between flesh and matter.

Based in his native Casablanca, Laâraj has established a significant international presence, exhibiting across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. His versatility is perhaps best exemplified by his diverse creative interventions – from the murals of Asilah to his award-winning ice and snow sculptures in Chicago and Canada. By harmonising the traditional with the modern and abstraction with figuration, Laâraj continues to evolve the language of Moroccan art, infusing it with a universal, spiritual resonance that speaks to the shared human experience.